Department for Transport

Safeguarding Directions for High Speed 2 Phase 2a

baroness vere of norbiton: My Honourable Friend, the Minister of State for Transport (Andrew Stephenson), has made the following Ministerial Statement.Motions to revive the High Speed Rail (West Midlands – Crewe) Bill, known as the Phase 2a Bill, have now been passed in each House, and the Bill was re-introduced on 3 March. I look forward to the progression of the Bill as it nears its final stages. I am today publishing revised Safeguarding Directions for the whole of the Phase 2a route. These Safeguarding Directions reflect the amendments (and therefore land requirements) which have been made to the hybrid Bill by the House of Commons as it passed through Select Committee. Through these revised Safeguarding Directions, the Government has protected land that we anticipate at this stage will be needed to build Phase 2a of HS2 and where there may otherwise be a risk of conflicting development. Planning restrictions put in place following the issue of previous Safeguarding Directions have been removed where we no longer expect to need that land. Crucially, issuing revised Safeguarding Directions gives people affected more clarity on the route and allows eligible property owners to access statutory blight compensation. Under the statutory blight regime, qualifying property owners are able to apply to sell their home or small business to the Government from the time that their property is subject to Safeguarding Directions. In addition to statutory blight compensation, the Government has implemented a package of non-statutory property compensation schemes that go above and beyond what is required by law. The schemes are open to qualifying property owners across the three phases of the HS2 route including Phase 2a. They will be in place until one year after each phase of HS2 is operational. I want to ensure that those living near the route receive the right support at all stages of the project and that those affected are properly compensated and treated with compassion, dignity and respect. Copies of these Safeguarding Directions will be laid in the both Libraries of the House. Information on HS2 property compensation schemes are available at:https://www.gov.uk/claim-compensation-if-affected-by-hs2



Safeguarding Directions for High Speed 2 Phase 2a
(PDF Document, 163.48 KB)





This statement has also been made in the House of Commons: 
HCWS308

Department for Education

Student Support in England

baroness berridge: My honourable friend the Minister of State for Universities (Michelle Donelan) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.I am today confirming the eligibility rules for EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals, and their family members, who wish to commence courses in England in the Academic Year starting in August 2021. Following our decision to leave the EU, EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals will no longer be eligible for home fee status, undergraduate, postgraduate and advanced learner financial support from Student Finance England for courses starting in academic year 2021/22. This change will also apply to Further Education funding for those aged 19+, and funding for apprenticeships. It will not affect students starting courses in academic year 2020/21, nor those EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals benefitting from Citizens’ Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement respectively. It will also not apply to Irish nationals living in the UK and Ireland whose right to study and to access benefits and services will be preserved on a reciprocal basis for UK and Irish nationals under the Common Travel Area arrangement. EU, other EEA and Swiss students, staff and researchers make an important contribution to our universities. I want that contribution to continue and am confident – given the world-leading quality of our higher education sector – that it will.  


This statement has also been made in the House of Commons: 
HCWS310